Jermaine McGillvary scored four tries to help Huddersfield Giants onto a 40-26 victory over Hull FC at the John Smith’s Stadium.
On a hot evening in West Yorkshire, the Giants came out on top against a depleted FC outfit thanks to McGillvary’s quartet of tries, whilst Luke Yates, Will Pryce, Leroy Cudjoe and Nathan Peats were also on the scoreboard for the hosts.
Mitili Vulikijapani followed his maiden Super League try with a second later in the game, with FC’s other tries coming from Carlos Tuimavave, Chris Satae and Jordan Lane.
Team News
Brett Hodgson made a host of changes to his squad from the side that faced the Giants in Hull’s last match just under a month ago.
Adam Swift, Danny Houghton, Andre Savelio, Josh Bowden, Lane and Satae all returned to action for the visitors, whilst a handful of players remained unavailable through coronavirus protocols.
Cudjoe started the match to clock up his 300th Huddersfield appearance.
Both on loan from Leigh, Nathaniel Peteru and Nathan Peats were included in the fold for Ian Watson’s side.
With a host of senior players ruled out through injury, academy players Pryce and Robson Stevens were also involved.
The Match
After some early defensive pressure on the front foot from the visitors, the Black & Whites pierced their way through for the first points of the game thanks to some silky hands from Ben McNamara. Savelio had the presence of mind to pass to Tuimavave, who scored just three minutes into his return to action. Sneyd tagged on the extras.
But the first examination of Hull’s try line resulted in a swift response from the Giants. Chris McQueen found McGillvary in space on the right flank and the international winger had too much strength to score. Russell’s touchline conversion attempt was narrowly wide.
Hull hadn’t touched the ball again before Huddersfield managed to hit the front after eleven minutes. Back-to-back six agains put Hull under the pump and Peats managed to power over from close range. Russell converted from in front of the sticks.
In what was proving to be an electric start, Hull came up with a timely response. Sneyd’s well-measured kick was expertly claimed by Vulikijapani, who dotted down to score his first professional rugby league try. Sneyd converted to put Hull 12-10 ahead after just under a quarter of the match.
More Sneyd kicking pressure yielded another try for the Airlie Birds. Mahe Fonua this time leapt into the air to palm the ball back to Lane, who won’t have an easier try to his name all year. Sneyd’s conversion attempt hit the post.
The Giants tested Hull with a teasing kick of their own, and when it was palmed down by Ashton Golding, Yates was backing up in the inside to score from ten metres out. Russell missed the conversion to keep the visitors narrowly ahead.
Within the blink of an eye, Huddersfield were back in the lead thanks to some outstanding work from Pryce. His burst of speed down the middle of the park caught Hull off guard and the youngster had enough momentum to beat Swift for pace at the back.
The hosts were given a huge boost ahead of the half-time break. Russell’s measured kick looped over Cameron Scott and McGillvary managed to sneak around the back to score Huddersfield’s fifth try of the night. Russell’s touchline conversion came up just short.
HALF-TIME: Giants 22-16 Hull
Russell picked out McGillvary with another kick – this time a grubber – and the England international winger had enough speed to race down the wing and score his hat-trick try in the left corner. Russell secured the touchline conversion this time.
With 25 minutes remaining, Hull’s comeback task was made that little bit harder when Ligi Sao was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Sam Hewitt.
The Black & Whites gave themselves a huge fighting chance on the comeback trail, however, when Vulikijapani came up with an interception and raced down the left flank to score Hull’s fourth try of the night in the corner. Sneyd dragged the conversion attempt just wide.
Just when the visitors looked to be back in the ascendency, a knock on in a goodball set had costly ramifications for the Airlie Birds. Back-to-back six agains piggy-backed the Giants up the field and McGillvary had Russell to tank once again for his fourth try of the evening. Russell’s conversion made it 34-20 with just over 13 minutes remaining.
The night wasn’t up there for Huddersfield – their hometown lad Cudjoe marked his milestone appearance with a try underneath the sticks after some second-phase play.
On a high scoring night at the John Smith’s Stadium, the Black & Whites had the final say when Satae planted the ball down underneath the sticks following some good build-up play from Vulikijapani earlier in the set. Sneyd converted from in front.
FULL-TIME: Giants 40-26 Hull
Squads & Scorers
Hull: Swift, Vulikijapani, Tuimavave, Fonua, Scott, McNamara, Sneyd, Satae, Houghton, Sao, Savelio, Lane, Fash
Hull Interchanges: Brown, Bowden, Burrell, Johnstone
Hull Tries: Tuimavave, Vulikijapani (2), Lane, Satae
Hull Goals: Sneyd (3/5)
Giants: Golding, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Senior, Russell, Pryce, Wilson, Peats, Yates, McQueen, Jones, Trout
Giants Interchanges: Hewitt, Peteru, Stevens, Wood
Giants Tries: McGillvary (4), Peats, Yates, Pryce, Cudjoe
Giants Goals: Russell (5/8)
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